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The Predator, Portable Headphone Amp/USB DAC Combo
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Headphoneus Supremus: HeadFest '07 Lead Organizer The DOTU
Actual news on pricing -- even though not precise
Alright, folks, enough with the price speculation! The low-ball prices in this thread are just plain dreaming! Why would a smaller, newer, quieter, amp WITH a built-in USB dac be the same price as a Hornet or SR-71? Doesn't make any sense at all. Similarly off the mark is the hope that Ray would do a 25% discount on pre-orders! How could that make sense? Sometimes there is a pre-order/Head-Fi discount but certainly $100 off. Don't get your expectations -- and the expectations of those reading this thread -- way too high (or low as the case may be).
OK, so Ray himself said in Florida this weekend that the price will be between $400 and $500. The Pico is $500, and the Predator is likely to be close to that number. It makes sense when you compare the two products -- both winners now that I and others had a chance to hear them ourselves -- and when even moreso when you compare the much smaller Predator to HeadRoom's Micro Amp and Micro DAC. Those separate are $400 each ($700 each for Ultra) and the soon-to-be-released Micro Amp with internal DAC will be $600. Realistically, Ray cannot be expected to release the Predator for too much less than $500.
More interesting is what the Predator will look like in the case and when it will be on the streets. Ray does amazing case work and I expect the Predator to meet his high standards.
Mr. Samuels, sorry for asking all of these questions, but is there a date that you have in mind for releasing this information??? (pics and prices mainly)
Thank you so much!
__________________ ANALOG - Technics SL-1200MKII -> Marantz 2226b -> Sennheiser HD580 / Polk Monitor 40 DIGITAL - Technics SL-PD5 -> Marantz 2226b -> Sennheiser HD580 / Polk Monitor 40
I'm gonna go with $450 for pre-orders & $500 there after...Given that the Hornet alone is $370 (not even taking into account if you want a colored one).
Getting back to the DAC connection type, what were the primary factors in deciding not to go with an optical connector, in addition to USB? It's been suggested that power and size are the primary reasons, though I'd image cost is an obvious one as well.
Alright, folks, enough with the price speculation! The low-ball prices in this thread are just plain dreaming! Why would a smaller, newer, quieter, amp WITH a built-in USB dac be the same price as a Hornet or SR-71? Doesn't make any sense at all. Similarly off the mark is the hope that Ray would do a 25% discount on pre-orders! How could that make sense? Sometimes there is a pre-order/Head-Fi discount but certainly $100 off. Don't get your expectations -- and the expectations of those reading this thread -- way too high (or low as the case may be).
OK, so Ray himself said in Florida this weekend that the price will be between $400 and $500. The Pico is $500, and the Predator is likely to be close to that number. It makes sense when you compare the two products -- both winners now that I and others had a chance to hear them ourselves -- and when even moreso when you compare the much smaller Predator to HeadRoom's Micro Amp and Micro DAC. Those separate are $400 each ($700 each for Ultra) and the soon-to-be-released Micro Amp with internal DAC will be $600. Realistically, Ray cannot be expected to release the Predator for too much less than $500.
More interesting is what the Predator will look like in the case and when it will be on the streets. Ray does amazing case work and I expect the Predator to meet his high standards.
Well stated, Voltron. I agree... I don't see this coming in for much less than $500.
in regards to the amp, is the Predator intended to be a step up, step down, or equal to the Tomahawk (build wise)?
RSA has a hierarchy with the Tomahawk, Hornet, and SR-71, and the description for the predator is essentially the size and PCBs of the Tomahawk, with SMD's of the SR-71. Not sure what's in the Tomahawk, to compare where this amp 'technically' falls.
__________________ Portable Rig: 5.5G iMod w/ BSE => ALO Jumbo Cryo X Au/AG => RSA Predator #90 => UM2 (Westone 3 on order, all else sold/died) Laptop Rig: => RSA Predator #90 => Senn HD650 (APureSound Mod)(SAA Equinox HD650)[/font]
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